Alcoholism and Dual Diagnosis

Alcoholism and dual diagnosis is something you may or may not have heard about previously. When we say that somebody has a dual diagnosis we are referring to the fact that as well as having an addiction problem that person also has another mental health problem to deal with. This second diagnosis could involve a condition such as depression, mania, schizophrenia, anxiety, or bipolar disorder. This other condition may be a result of their addiction or it may have triggered their addiction.

During my twenties I was diagnosed with alcohol induced depression. Alcohol abuse really takes its toll on the body and mind, and for many addicts it can mean developing mental health problems as well as physical ones. It is easy to get caught in a vicious cycle where you drink because of these other symptoms, and in doing so increase the severity of these symptoms. This was what happened to me; the more I drank the more depressed I became and on and on. In the end I became so depressed that I ended up homeless on the streets of London; luckily I found help. Alcoholism and dual diagnosis can be a deadly combination for some people.

It is also usual for those with mental health problems to turn to alcohol or drugs as a means to escape their problems. Some of these individuals won't even realise that they have a problem; just that they feel better when they are dunk or high. This is often referred to as self-medication and it can be something that works for a while. Eventually though, the drugs or alcohol will stop working and the individual will be in a worse position then when they started.

Having a dual diagnosis discovered is particularly important for those who have managed to enter recovery. If it is left untreated then that person may continue to find life difficult despite the fact that they have given up the booze. They may begin to blame recovery for not being satisfying enough without realizing that it is their other mental health problem causing the problem. They may relapse out of frustration and this will be a terrible waste, and the reason why alcoholism and dual diagnosis should be an important issue.